Doug Wilson: Tomas Hertl on track to be ready for regular season

Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement Sunday that despite Tomas Hertl s decision to withdraw from the World Cup of Hockey, the 22-year-old forward remains on track to be ready to go for the start of the regular season.

After speaking with Tomas, we re pleased that he has chosen to put his commitment to the Sharks and his teammates first, Wilson said. I know he s disappointed to not be able to represent his country but Tomas is on track to be ready for the start of the NHL season and he doesn t want to do anything to jeopardize that.

Tomas had a breakthrough season last year, particularly in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and we re excited to see him build on that progress this coming year.

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Hertl suffered a right knee injury June 1 during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after he absorbed a hit from Patric Hornqvist. Surgery was not required, but when Hertl signed his two-year, $6 million bridge contract in late June, he indicated that he did not want to play in the World Cup unless he was at 100 percent.

I just want to be 100 percent ready for season and I don t want to go to World Cup at just 80 percent health, he said June 30.

Hertl has made steady progress from the injury in the last two months and has been skating at Sharks Ice recently. All indications are that he ll be ready to go once training camp begins Sept. 23.The Sharks begin the regular season Oct. 12 at home against the Los Angeles Kings.

With Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Logan Couture all in the World Cup, the Sharks are going to need a couple other centers for the first 10 days or so of camp before everybody returns. With Hertl now in San Jose instead of Toronto, he could fit the bill nicely, considering there s a chance he returns to being the Sharks third line center at some point this season.

Hertl had 46 points in 81 regular season games in 2015-16 and 11 points in 20 playoff games before his injury.